Tennessee basketball has a handful of players dealing with injuries ahead of the Vols’ trip to the Bahamas for the Baha Mar Championship to face Virginia and either Baylor or St. John’s.
Sophomore wing Cam Carr didn’t practice and sophomore center JP Estrella worked off to the side on Tuesday afternoon in Tennessee’s final practice before leaving for the Bahamas. Forward Darlinstone Dubar was doing more team work at practice after returning to practice last week and working off to the side. Senior shooting guard Chaz Lanier is a partial participant while dealing with a migraine headache.
Carr was not in attendance at practice, Estrella was there and dressed out but not participating and Lanier was a partial participant.
The status of the four players is currently unclear ahead of the Baha Mar Championship. Dubar appears to be nearing his return to the court. Lanier dealing with a migraine doesn’t seem overly concerning with tipoff over 48 hours away and him doing some work at practice. Estrella and Carr’s chances of playing seem less likely than the other two.
Estrella is dealing with the same foot injury that has plagued him since this summer and led to him missing the Vols’ game against Austin Peay on Sunday. The sophomore center played in Tennessee’s first three games of the season where he averaged 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10.3 minutes per game.
Tennessee tried to lessen Estrella’s workload this summer while building up his reps in the final weeks of the preseason to both rest the foot while also having him ready for the start of the season.
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“It is concerning,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “We know he wants to play. We know he has done everything he can do. I think the plan we had for him to start was the right plan. Again, they are day to day evaluating that to figure out now where do we go.”
Carr’s injury is a new one. The sophomore wing suffered a left hand injury in the second half of Tennessee’s win against Austin Peay. Carr’s hand was bent backwards on a play and he exited the game with just over seven minutes left and did not return.
The 6-foot-5 wing is averaging 4.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 10.3 minutes minutes per game this season. Carr is a talented young player who is looking to earn more consistent playing time by being more consistent on the defensive end of the court.
Carr’s best game of the season came last week against Montana when he totaled 13 points, two rebounds and two assists.
Dubar has yet to play this season while dealing with a personal matter. The Hofstra transfer missed practice for nearly two weeks before returning last week but most working off to the side with strength and conditioning coach Garret Medenwald.
Tennessee opens up play in the Bahamas at 9:30 p.m. ET on Thursday night when they face Virginia. CBS Sports Network is broadcasting the game.
